Food and Beverage Operations Director - ExCel London

Compass Group; London; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a dynamic Food and Beverage Operations Director to lead a talented team at a premier venue in London. This exciting role involves overseeing exceptional hospitality services for a diverse range of events, from executive meetings to large-scale exhibitions. The ideal candidate will possess substantial experience in Food and Beverage management, coupled with strong leadership and strategic thinking skills. Join a forward-thinking company committed to sustainability and diversity, where your contributions will play a vital role in delivering outstanding service and creating memorable experiences for guests.

Benefits

Private Healthcare

Discretionary Bonus

27 Days Holiday

Free Meals on Duty

Pension

Life Assurance

Employee Assistance

Entertainment Discounts

Health and Wellbeing Discounts

Travel Discounts

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in Food and Beverage management is essential.
• Proven leadership skills with the ability to inspire large teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead and motivate a team of Department Heads to optimize sales.
• Ensure compliance with company policies and standards.

Skills

Food and Beverage Management

Leadership

Client Management

Budgeting and Forecasting

Communication Skills

Strategic Thinking

Job description

Food and Beverage Operations Director - ExCeL London

We are seeking a dynamic and inspirational senior hospitality professional with experience in Food and Beverage delivery across meetings, exhibitions, conferences, and entertainment arenas. The successful candidate will lead and motivate a team of Department Heads and their teams to optimize sales, profitability, and guest service, supported by a structured approach with a focus on compliance with company policies, standards, and employment principles.

ExCeL London, a leading venue for world-class events, is experiencing significant growth and plans to become Europe’s largest connected convention centre with a new extension opening in Summer 2025, increasing capacity by 25%. To support this expansion, we are expanding our hospitality team, which delivers over 400 industry-leading events annually. Our hospitality services cater to a wide range of events, from executive meetings to large-scale conferences and exhibitions, supported by a highly trained team of managers, chefs, and staff committed to delivering exceptional service.

Who you are:

• A confident leader with senior management experience capable of inspiring large operational teams to achieve results.
• Substantial experience in Food and Beverage management (essential).
• Skilled in managing a diverse portfolio of outlets and business functions.
• Passionate about people, with excellent communication skills for engaging clients and team members.
• Enthusiastic about food and hospitality, with a natural flair for service.
• Commercially savvy with skills in budgeting, forecasting, and resource deployment, and able to adapt to trends cost-effectively.
• A strategic thinker capable of developing and executing effective strategies.
• Excellent at client and stakeholder management, with strong interpersonal skills.
• Confident, energetic, charismatic, and adaptable to different leadership situations.
• Structured yet flexible, calm, resilient, and able to handle unforeseen challenges.
• Willing to work evenings and weekends as required.

We offer a comprehensive benefits package including private healthcare, discretionary bonus, 27 days holiday plus Bank Holidays and a birthday off, free meals on duty, pension, life assurance, employee assistance, entertainment discounts, health and wellbeing discounts, travel discounts, shopping discounts, holiday purchase schemes, ongoing training, professional development, financial wellbeing programs, and more.

Who we are:

Levy UK + Ireland, part of Compass Group, is a leading sector in hospitality at premier venues, delivering exceptional food, drink, and service experiences. Our partnerships include iconic venues such as Wimbledon, Twickenham, and Tottenham Hotspur. We are committed to sustainability, wellbeing, diversity, and inclusion, aiming for Net Zero by 2027. We are proud to pay all team members at least the Real or London Living Wage and foster a workplace culture that values diversity and inclusion. Join us in creating a more inclusive and thriving environment where every individual can succeed and contribute their talents.